12 



British trade in slaves, constituted a great, decided 

 and permanent change in tlie relative position of 

 Great Britain, and required a decided change 

 in the course of her policy. Without changing 

 her political maxims, a clear and decided altera- 

 tion in the application of those maxims, appears to 

 have been required. The principles which indicated 

 the expediency of such alteration, appear, however, 

 to have been recognised of late only. Upon the 

 representations, indeed, which have proceeded 

 from merchants, and other parties, actuated by a 

 sense of particular interest, partial changes have re- 

 ceived the sanction of the Government and of the 

 Legislature; but until the act of the last session of 

 Parliament, "■ for the further regulation of trade to 

 and from places within the limits of the charter of 

 the East-India Company," by which British ships 

 are permitted to sail from the place of Asiatic 

 growth to the country of consumption ^e«errt//j/, the 

 principles upon which such changes were required, 

 do not appear to have been apprehended with 

 the strength, and applied with the effect, required 

 by their latent pmcer and practical importance. 



Whilst the United States of America were de- 

 pendencies of the British Empire, the British Go- 

 vernment, with great clearness and strength of 

 judgment, encouraged the Agriculture and Navi- 

 gation of those countries ; the plantations in which 



